Blossoms, RE Books, Aprons & The Nester’s GIVEAWAY Day!
Hey Friends, I’m super excited today because it’s a big giveaway day!
I’m getting closer to 1,000 posts here at RE, with my message of journaling about entertaining and hospitality going back to 2006. Yes, way back then, I shared this simple post:
With the best intentions, many of us think about entertaining, but never get around to it. Usually this happens because we don’t have enough time, we’re disorganized or our spouse isn’t interested in hosting a party, or even a small dinner! For many this blessing of gracious living for both the hostess and her guests never takes place, because of fear … fear of failure, unable to cook, unwilling to share their lives with others, fear of deepening friendships … they are intimidated and think the meal has to be perfect, or … they don’t have the lifestyle that says, “welcome.” (-my very first post on RE)
Hospitality doesn’t have to be complicated at all, and today’s little tip is to bring beautiful Spring blossoms indoors to spruce up your home a bit.
You might have read my post on forcing branches, but my real love is the elegant pink and white blossoms that are currently blooming in Oregon. Stunning!
Clip and put in water.
Arrange and bring indoors!
Along with these beautiful blossoms today, The Hip Hostess and I are offering an amazing giveaway for 3 WINNERS. (Thanks to The Nester if she sent you over.)
1 person will WIN all 3 of these items:
Signed Copy of The Reluctant Entertainer
Balcony Girls E-Book
Sheath Style Black a la Mode apron from The Hip Hostess2 people will WIN:
Signed Copy of The Reluctant Entertainer
Here’s HOW to WIN:
1. Leave a comment telling me what it is about hospitality or entertaining that bogs you down? Also, do you think your personality type affects your hospitality/entertaining style?
2. Join our Facebook pages and leave a comment telling me that you did (Reluctant Entertainer and The Hip Hostess)
{If you’re already a member, leave a comment. You guys get one too!}
3. Follow us on twitter and leave a comment telling me you did. (@SandyCoughlinRE and @TheHipHostess)
{If you’re already a follower, leave a comment. You guys get one too!}
This counts as three entries.
4. Facebook about the giveaway, and leave a comment, telling me you did.
5. Tweet about the giveaway, and leave a comment telling me you did. (using @SandyCoughlinRE and @TheHipHostess)
6. Blog about the giveaway, and leave a comment telling me you did.
It’s your choice to just comment, or do all six! So that is 6 chances total!
Contest ends midnight on Thursday, April 7th. Winner will be announced Friday morning, 4/8/11.
The Nester is featuring all of her sponsors today over at Nesting Place, so head over there for a kazillion more giveaways and chances to enter for some incredible prizes.
GOOD LUCK, Friends!
(I want to thank Debbie from The Hip Hostess for donating one of her classy aprons. The quality is superior. If you don’t have one, you’re really missing out. If you want to read more about Balcony Girls, go HERE. If you want to read more about my book, The Reluctant Entertainer, go HERE.)
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
I don’t feel “qualified” and I also feel like I’m lucky to maintain my usual routine, so then adding another event will just put me farther behind.
I’m a perfectionist and I take any misstep as personal failure, as opposed to laughing it off and rolling with the punches. It’s definitely something I need to work on, and yes, perfectionism does affect my style.
Cheers,
*Heather*
I like both FB sites…now I’ll be heading back to check them both out! They look beautiful. :-)
even though people tell me i’m a good cook–i get kind of frantic thinking that something will go wrong and i’ll have all these people standing around waiting to eat and i’ll burn, undercook, overcook, etc. the food!
I have 3 that are 4 years old and under, and it’s difficult enough to keep my house presentable, much less clean enough for company! I also struggle to pull together a meal that’s easy, good for company and children!
liked you on FB too!
Posted your link on fb. :)
i get too worried about my house being clean!
My problem is that I’m shy! I get nervous around new people so we tend to only invite our closest friends over.
My problem with entertaining is (because I have 8 kids of my own) getting things to look pretty as they are presented, but easy and easy cleanup afterward!
I like your fb pages. :)
I tweeted about the contest (@kellymmckee).
I get stressed about conversation if it’s not a close friend. I’m an introvert by nature and panic at the thought of having awkward silence that I need to fill. My husband is shy, as well, to make things worse. Our busy schedules add to scheduling problems.
I follow @TheHipHostess on twitter!
I follow @SandyCoughlinRE on twitter.
Housecleaning. It seems I can barely keep it clean day to day (we have 3 big, hairy dogs and a teenage daughter). Also the time and energy I *think* it takes to entertain. We entertained when we were first married and then over the years the kid’s activities and our work has dominated our time. But thinking about having a brunch this month for some of my friends. :) There’s hope for us yet!
Tweeting your post!
I tend to be very introverted so it is just the having people over that gets to me. I want to do better and am, but it requires a constant effort and I don’t necessarily enjoy myself in the process.
Follow you on Twitter!
Follow you on facebook!
It’s my own perfectionism…I just need to let go and enjoy my guests! I also hate the clean-up afterwards. :-)
I’m one of those girls who finds it easier to be friends with guys. It’s just a pattern I naturally fell into, and it’s hard to get out of it. I really love finding deeper friendships with other females, but I do think this is one of my biggest hurdles when it comes to entertaining. I’m just a bit shy around female friends, and I feel insecure that my standards of entertaining won’t be up to scratch. I’d like to reach out of my comfort zone a little more!
Hummm… the thing that bogs me down is getting it done on time with three tots to manage. Sometimes I feel like I’m in the kitchen and not with the guests. I have a pretty laid back personality so I think that helps me go with the flow. Hope I win!
I am nervous about inviting people over. I think about having people over all the time but I rarely follow through. I worry about things like “What if they are bored or the food isn’t good”. I need to get out of my own way and do it!
Tweeted! http://twitter.com/#!/curliegirlie03/status/55269588228775937